Disability commissioner quits airline advisory group

The Disability Discrimination Commissioner has quit a Federal Government advisory group in protest over its lack of progress on aeroplane access.

Graeme Innes was a member of the Accessible Airlines Working Group, along with Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and airline representatives.

Mr Innes says the group has failed to achieve any major results, such as overturning the policy of some airlines to have a limit of two wheelchair passengers per flight.

"Disappointingly I felt that I had no option, given the resources available at the commission for my work, but to devote my efforts to other areas," he said.

"I really don't think this group has been effective in addressing the access needs of people with a disability."

Mr Innes says he has written to Mr Albanese to explain why he has resigned after three years with the group.

"I hope that the minister now might reassess this process and perhaps put in train a different process which is more task and goal oriented and picks four or five issues that are more important and sets itself some goals and timelines to remedy those issues," he said.

Federal Government frontbencher Joe Ludwig says it is a disappointing decision.

He says the group has been driving important changes.

"It has initiated the development of publication of disability access facilitation plans which set out in detail how airlines and airports will meet the needs of passengers with disabilities," he said.

"Forty-one plans are now in place covering all the major Australian airlines and all capital city airport operators."